Pre-season training began for a majority of clubs during the last week of July.

[1][2][3][4][5] A pre-season tourney, dubbed the NBL Top End Challenge, involving all eight sides was contested during August in Darwin, Northern Territory.

Source: NBL.com.au The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of an identical win–loss record, the results in games played between the teams will determine order of seeding.

13-way Head-to-Head between Wollongong Hawks (5-3), Townsville Crocodiles (4-4) and Gold Coast Blaze (3-5).

The NBL tie-breaker system as outlined in the NBL Rules and Regulations states that in the case of a tie of three or more teams, winning percentage in games played only between those teams will determine order of finish.